Fabulous Friday Feature-Margaret Brownley

Today I welcome a NY best selling author who kept trying until she succeeded. She is a kind spirited lady who can warm your heart:
Margaret Brownley

Enter to win Margaret's new release,

A Bride for All Seasons 

Scroll to the end of the post to see how to enter.

More Laughter and Love

My writing career began, and ended, early.  I wrote my first book in fifth grade—a mystery without an ending.  I was on a roll until I reached eighth grade.  Unimpressed with my essay on why I wanted to be a writer my English teacher flunked me.  If that wasn’t bad enough, she further went on to suggest I not even think about becoming a writer.

For many years I didn’t.  School, work, marriage and motherhood commanded my attention and I made a gallant, though ultimately fruitless, attempt to ignore the voice inside that kept nagging me to write.

The voice grew louder with each passing year and by the time my children were in middle school it became a deafening roar. That’s when I decided to enroll in a writing class at the local college. My children breathed a collective sigh of relief. Apparently, my habit of writing long, humorous and creative notes to teachers explaining a son or daughter’s absence was a source of embarrassment (which is probably why one son won a prize for perfect attendance).

The creative writing class gave me much needed confidence and there was no stopping me. I wrote for the hometown newspaper, the PTA, the high school band, and the local ice cream parlor.  Thrills, mystery, suspense, romance: I penned it all. Nothing wrong with that, except at the time I was also writing for the church newsletter.  After making the church picnic read like a Grisham novel, my former pastor took me aside and said, "Maybe God's calling you to write fiction."

I didn’t know at the time if that’s what God had in mind, but I wasn’t about to take a chance. I immediately began work on a novel.  I wrote four novels in four years, mostly at four in the morning.  During this time a national paper shortage hit the news, but you would never know it by the ton of rejections that landed in my mailbox. 

           

The economy sank and money was tight.  Whenever my kids wanted something not in the family budget they were told they’d have to wait until mom sold her book.  That soon became the family mantra.  Anything was possible when mom sold her book.  

           

Then one day it happened: I got the call! A publisher wanted to buy my book!  By then the children had all moved out with jobs of their own and were now able to buy their own cars and electronic equipment. This was a very good thing because my paltry advance barely covered the cost of postage to mail it.  Nonetheless I was thrilled. This is it! I’m on my way.  Whoopee!

           

Only I wasn’t.  The company went bankrupt before my book was published.  Soon after, I sold to a romance line.  This was it!  I’m on my way.  Whoopee! Only I wasn’t.  This time the company didn’t go bankrupt but the line closed. 

           

It seemed that every time I signed a contract the company was doomed.  I closed so many publishers that when I finally sold to Harlequin, my writer friends begged me not to sign the contract for fear I would shutter that publisher, too. I’m happy to say that Harlequin remains intact to this day and went on to publish four of my books. (As for the rumor I had something to do with the closing of Borders bookstores—I plead a resounding not guilty.)  

My career has had as many ups and down as a Boeing 747, but looking back I see how God used my writing to shape and mold me and on more occasions than I can count, bring me to my knees. He also sent the right people at the right time to keep me on track: The minister who saw something in me that needed encouragement; the agent who took me on when no one else would; the editor who took me under her wing.  And just when I was ready to throw in the towel, a reader wrote to tell me that something I wrote changed her life for the better.

 I’ve often said that God made me a writer to teach me patience and other things.  I’m still learning and He’s still teaching and I wouldn’t want it any other way.  Some say that writing is a lonely profession, but that’s not true.  If you’re following God’s plan for you, He’ll be there every step of the way.   He is the ultimate muse.

 It’s been a bumpy ride but I wouldn’t have changed a thing. Not only has writing helped me grow in my Christiana faith, I get paid to dream up handsome cowboys.  As for the rest; you’ll be glad to know that I haven’t shut down a publisher in years. 

Wow, Margaret  Your journey has been on a road winding through a bog, how good God stayed by your side to kep you from the quicksand. And how good you have stepped onto dry ground. :)

www.margaretbrownley.com

Also on Facebook and Twitter

           

Margaret Brownley has written more than thirty books. She’s a N.Y. Times bestselling author and a former Romance Writers of American RITA finalist.  She currently has a story in A Bride for All Seasons collection. Her next book Gun Powder Tea (Brides of Last Chance Ranch) will be published in October. She also has stories in September’s A Pioneer Christmas and Log Cabin Christmas collections.  Margaret and her husband live in Southern California and have three grown children.  

To enter the contest for an autographed copy of Margaret's book: "A Bride for All Seasons":

leave a comment (and email address)

and become a follower of this site if you aren't already.

U.S. residents only. 

Winner announced on my facebook page.

Thank you, Margaret, for Joining us This Weekend!

Reader, how about you? Stepping into the occasional patch of bog on life's journey is awkward, disappointing, and sticky, right? Yet in hindsight we see the blessings. How have you been blessed?